MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES 21ST ANNUAL GOSPELFEST CONCERT

BOSTON - Saturday, August 7, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today announced that the City of Boston’s annual GospelFest concert will take place on Sunday, August 8 at 5:00 p.m. at a new venue, Playstead Field at Franklin Park. Now in its 21st year, GospelFest showcases both national and local gospel talent. Blending contemporary and traditional gospel melodies, this annual event is produced by the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment in partnership with the Faith Collective. This event is free and open to the public. Also at GospelFest, the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition, in partnership with Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

“GospelFest is a celebration of music, faith, and community,” said Mayor Janey. “I want to thank all of the organizers, volunteers, performers, and attendees for making this such a highly anticipated event year after year. I am so happy that we’re able to welcome this event back in person, thanks to vaccination efforts, such as today’s clinic.”

Rich Tolbert Jr. will headline the concert, and The Worship Bandits and the Mayor’s Community Gospel Chorale will also perform. This event will be hosted by the Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston, Reverend Mariama White-Hammond and Bishop Bobby Perry of Kingdom Builders Church.

“Our team partners with hundreds of events across three continents a year and this one is easily one of my favorites simply because of its community impact in Beantown,” said Faith Collective owner John Bernier. “I’m thrilled that the Mayor’s office is committing to it happening annually!”

Attendees are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to the concert venue, Playstead Field at Franklin Park. The Gourmet Kreyol food truck will have food and drink available for purchase at the event. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission water truck will also be on site for attendees.

“Given the year we've all had, I think we need this year's GospelFest more than ever,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond. “I'm looking forward to welcoming everyone to the beauty of creation at Franklin Park so we can get our praise on.”

This is an entirely outdoor, open-air event. It is encouraged, but not required, to wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be available on-site. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still at high-risk of spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated, you should avoid large social gatherings. If you do plan to attend, avoid congested areas, wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth, and maintain six feet of physical distance as much as possible. To get vaccinated, find a location near you on boston.gov/coronavirus.

About Rich Tolbert Jr.

New York City native Rich Tolbert Jr. grew up in church, singing and leading worship by age ten. As a young adult, Tolbert was part of the five-member ensemble Livre’ (Portuguese for “free”), which debuted at an anniversary event for the Bronx Mass Choir where they were discovered by Alicia Keys. The group went on to release a series of singles, including “Amazing,” which hit the Top 40 of Billboard’s Hot Gospel Radio chart, and “I Will Be Alright,” which hit the Top 20, along with the full-length album, Jericho: Tribe of Joshua. After the group disbanded, Tolbert continued to write and perform as a solo artist, penning the hit song “Miracle Worker” before releasing his No. 1 debut album, Never Be Defeated. For more information and new music updates, visit RichTolbertJr.com and follow Tolbert on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @richtolbertjr.

About The Worship Bandits

The Worship Bandits is a collective of worshippers in the Boston area from several different churches that come to lift up one name: Jesus! This group was created in the midst of the pandemic with the belief that praise is a weapon that can be used to fight and defeat any trial.  They believe that unifying the voice and sound of the Kingdom of God will put darkness to flight.   

About The Mayor’s Community Gospel Chorale

The inaugural Community Chorale was assembled in 2014 and we are proud to present this year’s group of talented vocalists, composed of residents from all around the City of Boston, under the direction of The City’s own Edna Wilkie, a valued member of the Tourism, Sports and Entertainment team. This dedicated group of vocalists has gathered together each week to practice and perfect their performance for tonight. The chorale has performed all over the City - from Boston City Hall to the Faneuil Hall Christmas Tree Lighting, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, Harborfest, and the Boston Green Festival. The group’s motto is, “leaning on our Heavenly Father we've come this far by faith.”

About Faith Collective

In 2019, Faith Collective began as a spin off of “Event Gospel,” a faith- based artist management firm established in Boston, MA in 2006. With the entertainment industry's increased need to hone in on the digital space Faith Collective emerged as collaborative connecting industry managers, promoters, artists, and record labels with their fans across the US. Today the firm has expanded to now include virtual event production, digital media marketing, and branding strategy services to clients across 3 continents. For more information, email info@faith-collective.com or follow them on social media platforms @faith_collective.

About the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment

The Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment supports the tourism industry in Boston by producing events, supporting film and TV production, and marketing the City to conventions and visitors. Our mission is to advance tourism in Boston and promote participation in public celebrations from Boston residents and visitors to our City. For more information, visit boston.gov/tourism or follow the department on social media @VisitBostonCity.